In peace, vigilance
In death, sacrifice"
—Grey Wardens' motto
Grey Wardens artwork.
The Grey Wardens are an organization of elite warriors dedicated to the destruction of darkspawn in all of Thedas. They are headquartered in Weisshaupt Fortress in the country of Anderfels, and they are known to have a significant presence in the Orlesian Empire. Presently—during the Dragon Age—several centuries of peace have left them all but forgotten; yet the Grey Wardens have kept watch, well aware that peace is fleeting, and that their enemy will never truly be defeated until the last of the darkspawn have been slain.
From the first, the Grey Wardens sacrificed everything to stem the tide of darkness. Uniquely qualified for this task, they drew upon the most powerful of mages and the finest of warriors from all races and forged them into a fighting force that had time and time again driven back the darkspawn Blights. They remain legends, vigilantly watching for the return of their ancient foes, and stand ready to do battle once more when that time comes.
History
A Grey Warden from a Dragon Age: Origins trailer.
Codex Entry: The Grey Wardens During the darkest hours of the First Blight, a group of warriors and mages gathered together and underwent the first Joining. This ritual enabled them to turn the tide of the war. They defeated the darkspawn and slew the first Archdemon.
The Grey Wardens were once a large and magnificent organization who rode griffons that clouded the skies. The sight of them arriving in glorious numbers wherever darkspawn threatened was truly a sight to behold. They were revered by the people, and the nations of humanity once gladly supported them with food, equipment and a steady stream of recruits. Governments are still expected to pay a tithe to the Grey Wardens, but it has been four hundred years since the last Blight, and many now think the Grey Wardens to be irrelevant and obsolete. Their numbers have dwindled to near extinction, and although they are now seen to be only a relic of a once great and proud league of heroes, the few remaining Grey Wardens still keep up their training and maintain a watchful eye for signs of another Blight.
Exiled from Ferelden 200 years ago, when their then commander's personal bonds led to the Grey Wardens' involvement in a plot to overthrow the king, they were only readmitted 20 years ago by King Maric Theirin. The Grey Wardens of Ferelden are currently led by Duncan and number only about two dozen, but they have begun the slow process of rebuilding their order.
Some of the Grey Wardens have been known to use blood magic, as shown during the events at Soldier's Peak. This shows that the Grey Wardens will oppose the darkspawn using any method necessary. There are some in the order that differ in their goals to oppose the darkspawn, Commander Genevieve interprets opposing the darkspawn as "ending the Blights by any means necessary" whereas her lieutenant interprets it as "defending humankind from the darkspawn."
The Right of Conscription
Should they need to, the Grey Wardens possess the Right of Conscription; they may demand that any individual from king to criminal be drafted into their ranks. However—especially in Ferelden—this right is used sparingly for fear of political reprisal. Further complicating matters, the Grey Wardens don’t accept just anyone. Only the best and brightest are invited, regardless of race or social standing.
Template:DAOSpoiler
Notable Grey Wardens
- Main article: Grey Warden Membership
- Alistair
- Anders
- Asturian
- Avernus
- Duncan
- Genevieve
- The Secret Companion (depending on player's choice)
- Martine
- Nathaniel Howe
- Oghren
- Riordan
- Sigrun
- Sophia Dryden
- The Warden
- Velanna
Heraldry
The heraldry of the Grey Wardens is an argent griffin sergeant on azure. The Grey Warden Commanders, at least in the time of Sophia Dryden, seem to have their own heraldry as well. The blazon for that charge might be rendered as two griffins displayed addorsed, wings elevated, maintaining a branch fesswise between them. On Sophia Dryden's Warden Commander Armor, the charge appears in or, on a field sable. The artistic rendition of the charge on the armor is distinct from that seen on the heavy metal shields.
Template:HeraldryTable Template:HeraldryTable Template:HeraldryTable
See Also
- Codex: The First Warden
Gallery
Trivia
- Weisshaupt Castle may be a reference to Adam Weishaupt, founder of the order of Illuminati.
- Weiss is German for 'white', while haupt refers to the head of an organization or the head of a being in general. It could refer to the snow-tipped mountains where the fortress is located.
- In all of the cinematics, the Grey Wardens are never shown actually dying.
- Dragon Age: The Calling by David Gaider gives further insight into many aspects of Grey Warden lore.
- The Grey Wardens have some similiarities to the Night's Watch in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.